new bushrangers post

Victoria destroy Tasmania, Dirty Dirk & Our Bryce lead the way, read here.

dirty dirk & our bryce

The Bushrangers are keeping their one day hopes alive.

Quiney, the NSWelsh destroyer weeks ago, took a more subdued approach but still scored 70odd.

Hussey, McDonald and Blizzard all chipped in with 40 odds.

Since I didn’t see the game I’ll defer to my old man who said, “this Hastings looked good, had 20 odd in no time”.

Dirty Dirk Nannes continued his good form with 3/28 and Cricket With Balls Own Bryce McGain took 3/32.

The three wickets came at a very good time for Bryce, Siddle & Dirty Dirk didn’t allow him to take many wickets last week, in the first dig he didn’t even get a bowl.

The race for boxing say is still on, and at this stage we are still occasionally fully committed to our Bryce playing in the first test.

Bring on the Indians I say, Dirty Dirk is waiting.

rosie perez was right

In thinking about Victoria’s victory today I’m reminded of Rosie Perez in White men can’t jump, when she said in a thick latino accent,

“Sometimes when you win, you really lose, and sometimes when you lose, you really win, and sometimes when you win or lose, you actually tie, and sometimes when you tie, you actually win or lose”

It never made sense to me before, but now I get it, she was talking about the fact that when Victoria won, it really lost, because they failed to get Bryce McGain a haul of wickets.

As much as we all want Victoria to win the pura Sheffield cup Shield, what we really want is Victorians in the Australian side.

I am so sick and tired, (after 2 test matches) of watching smug NSWelshman, coy Westerners, slow Queenslanders or ex Tasmanians.

One Victorian, is it too much to ask for?

McGain is still the best spinner in the country, but a 5 for would have been nice. I think he was a bag of wickets away from really having a shot at playing. Now its either Hogg or Tait I fear.

But lets not dwell on Former Cricket With balls own Bryce McGain, let us get all gaga over Siddle, the man with a bowling average of 11 after 2 games.

This is a list of the bowlers he has taken more wickets than this year, all of which have played at least 4 games.

Stuart Clark, Jason Gillespie, Mitchell Johnson, Brad Hogg and Ben Hilfenhaus.

So if Bryce isn’t going to get the gong, let me flim flam over to Siddle, who is now Our Siddle, until he fails or he starts to annoy me for some petty reason.

Romance, Bushranger style

David Hussey and Max Klinger continue their sick relationship in Tasmania.

In the spirit of Romeo and Juliet, if one dies then the other must commit suicide so they can spend the rest of their time together pledging their undying love to each other, in the locker room.

It's not hard to work out who the butch is, is it?

At Least they only do it after making important partnerships.

Captaining suits the way Hussey bats, and a run a ball hundred was perfect for today.

Klinger continues to bat like a man who is trying like hell to keep himself in the side, is he a talented player, yes, can we continue to allow him to score a run over three balls, not sure.

Another worrying sign is the fact that outside of Hussey and Hodge none of the batsmen seem to be able to make 100’s.

Well it worries me anyway.

Tomorrow is an interesting day.

Will Our Byrce get a pitch that is Boxing day friendly tomorrow, or will Peter “nacho” Siddle continue his rise?

What happened to the Tasmanians, this is looking like a big depantsing in their own backyard.

who is peter siddle?

Well we would know the answer to that question if he could stay fit for more than 2 days at a time.

I can tell you what he looks like, he looks like a damn good bowler who knocks up getting wickets.

Oh and he also looks a little like a Mexican wrestler.

According to the official site he is a 24 year old young fast bowler, who this year is averaging like 10 runs per wicket, after a game and a half.

Thems good figures.

Lets not get too excited over him though, he is a Victorian fast bowler, so we can only expect him to play 3 first class games a year.

As for Tasmania’s capitulation, you can only assume it was a good toss to win, but having seen some highlights the ball was still hooping around when Quiney and Jewell put it beyond doubt.

So perhaps the Tasmanians didn’t put in the hard yards.

The only problem I can see for Victoria in this match as it stands is that Our Bryce McGain may not get a 4th day wicket to toil on.

His only hope may rest in the nail clippers of Brad Hogg.

more bryce

There is more Bryce McGain insight on our parental site cricketwithballs.com

On this post, there is no old man jokes, I promise Bryce.

Cricket with balls is a proud non paying sponsor of Bryce "Goo" McGain.

Bryce also had an interesting insight into the Bellerive pitch at his press conference "The pitch is the same length".

Interesting.

Victorian blizzard warning (murdoch approved headline)

Aiden blizzard is set to make his debut for the Vics next week.

I’m pretty happy with that, having seen him a few times now I think the boy can bat, and I think the sooner he gets into the side the better. He has a solid technique and a good eye. Making your debut on the fairy floss wicket down south aint bad either.

Will be interesting to see where he bats in the order, whether Future Pm David Hussey moves himself to 3, or whether Aiden comes in as a direct swap for Hodge.

Problem is he’s playing because Brad Hodge has been promoted to play 2020 cricket for Australia.

My question would be, what is the point of playing a near 33 year old in a one off 2020 match?

Surely Brad Hodge would be better off playing first class cricket for his state so he can get back into the test side (theoretically).

Not swinging his bat like a mad man so that cricket Australia can make some quick cash and channel 9 can try out new toys.

I’m not sure why people over the age of 25 need to even play 2020. I’d prefer Blizzard, Pomersbach or someone untried to have a go.

Either 2020 is a real form of cricket, and the best team plays (not drop out like Ponting did). Or it’s an exhibition game for add afflicted mtv fans, and it should be played by youngsters to get experience playing under pressure.

You can’t have your cup cake and eat it too.

Ken Piesse has a sense of humour

As part of his official work for Cricket Victoria, Ken Piesse does a section on the bushrangers website called, "young men in a hurry".

This week its on Cricket With Balls Own Bryce McGain.

It mentions his job at the bank (which every article I've ever read on him does)

His age (he turns 23 next winter, in dog years)

The fact he's single (what are you waiting for ladies)

That his son is a chucker (no mention of any Sri Lankan ancestory though).

Check it out here.

I promise no mention of Bryce McGain for 3 days.

Bryce McGain - International Man of Mystery

Apparently there are whispers around the traps that Cricket With Balls Own Bryce McGain could be a dark horse to play for Australia.

And no I didn’t start them myself, because although I think it’s a good idea, I didn’t want to be the one to jinx him. So now that it’s already circulating, I can comment without guilt.

Over at Are you a left arm chinaman they asked a rather long winded yet eloquent question about Our Bryce. So I will try and answer it as best I can.

We all know Bryce McGain is older than Jesus, but Jesus was a wicketkeeper, and they generally have to retire at a younger age. Problems with their hands and such.

Leg spinners, with the exception of Warne and now MacGill, age exceptionally well, and no one has aged better than Our Bryce.

So lets look at his chances of playing:

The positives

Is he bowling well enough to play for Australia, fu©k yeah.

Very rarely these days do Australian spinners dominate domestically. Funky was the last who springs to mind. Bryce is continually taking wickets, and getting out good batsmen, what more can the selectors ask for?

He is on track for a 40 wicket season, thems good numbers and he is bowling with the leading wicket taker in the competition at the other end.

He is the only man to derail Simon Katich this year, who as we know, is a good player of leg spin (for a crab).

Where is the first test again, oh that’s right, his home ground, boom.

He has experience on his side, not so much first class experience, but life experience that only elderly gentleman can have.

He knows his craft inside and out, and he isn’t some part timer who happens to get wickets.

There isn’t much footage of him, so who ever India’s coach ends up as, he won’t have much to go on.

He generally seems like a nice guy (how else could he become Cricket with balls Own), and since in my life I have had negative experiences with the two other alternatives, I would say he is the nicest option.

Right at the moment he is hardly bowling a bad ball, his length and flight were flawless against the New South Welshman.

Stuart MacGill is falling apart.

He can bowl all day, which against the Indians could come in handy.

The Negatives

Stuart MacGill has 200 test wickets, Brad Hogg has been playing international cricket for a long time now.

Playing your first test against India when you’re a leg spinner is like sending a goalie out to face Brazil on his first International. Laxman, Dravid, Tendulkar & Dhoni, oh my.

He has played only ten first class games, half of them this year.

Brad Hogg has taken less wickets this year than McGain, but he does have the superior average and strike rate.

He is from Victoria, so he has the wrong shade of blue cap on his head.

Shaun tait is back baby, and he so wants to knock off some Indian scalps.

Ponting likes class players, and what Ponting wants Ponting often gets. Ponting wants MacGill, if MacGill isn’t fit, then it shall be interesting to see what Ponting wants.

He is the same age as the two alternatives, so it may be fresh blood, but it aint young blood. Even if he is well preserved.

I like him, so like Craig Howard and Ian Harvey before him, that weight could be the one to sink him.

The Verdict

There are very few surprises when it comes to selection these days in Australia. Other than Shane Watson. In general the Australian selectors play it safe, Bryce is not the safe option. Kerry O’Keefe is talking him up, so now all he needs is Terry Jenner, Ian Chappell and a Rupert Murdoch paper on his side and he is really no chance.

I want to believe they are thinking of him as a realistic option, but I just can’t see him getting picked. I think if MacGill is fit, Ponting will demand him, and if not, they’ll take the man they know over the man they don’t.

But aint it nice to be mentioned.

Update, MacGill is out for the first 2 tests. It's down to Tait (pontings bag man in the wc), Hogg (the semi logical choice) or McGain (Cricket with balls Own). The choice is obvious.

rain

The rain came down and the game was drawn.

I am now not sure if I was harsh on the blues for batting slow yesterday, or whether I should be equally tough on the Victorians today.

The rain did have the final say, but the Victorians produced a run rate that was similar to that you would expect from Atherton and Crawley.

Especially as I saw with my own eyes, only a few days ago, Quiney destroy Lee and Clark. And yet today he went along at a Mails pace.

It was actually a pretty good game, and it was a shame it was ruined by rain.

So the wash up seems to be

∑ McGain may have proved that 4 quicks at the G is a stupid idea.

∑ Katich and Hussey are a class above.

∑ The shield final could be the two old foes, are very evenly matched.

∑ Cameron White is already being missed.

vics vs nsw day three (stumps)

In the last session Victoria decided not to take the new ball, for fear that they may wake NSW from their Valium induced coma.

I thought it was a good idea, the rest of the unwashed masses did not concur.

Mind you, in the first over with the new ball Denton got a wicket, so what do I know? However, that wicket was only possible because of McGain’s wicket with the old ball. The matrix is confusing kiddies.

Thornely smashed his way to 18 off 80 at one stage, as wrote that he hit a six. But you get the idea.

If this was the first time you had seen Matthew Wade keep (as it is for me) you would be forgiven for thinking the man cannot keep up to the stumps.

I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, one day doseth not maketh the man and all that sh1t, but it wasn’t pretty.

Mail made his hundred, his team mates were excited, they were perhaps the only ones who were. He batted stoically.

McGain continued to be the only bowler who looked like getting lucky, and he did, finally out boring Mail from around the wicket.

NSw are 280 odd in front, but if you want real scores, stats and such, why did you come here?

vics vs nsw day three (tea)

Updates, Hugh Trumble café and gift shop both air conditioned, and its appreciated.

In the gift shop the state stops are a 110 bucks a pop. What a disgrace. Australian tops are a 100. The state tops must be made better.

This session is the Bryce McGain show, he is the only bowler who look likes getting a wicket. And I’m not just saying nice things about him because he is old and he may die soon.

He dropped Forrest off his own bowling. But Forrest was so confused by the incident he thought the only gentlemanly thing to do was to run himself out.

Then he pegged Katich down, before getting him out for his first real failure of the year.

He dried up the runs and probed like an alien, while nameless faceless fast bowlers toiled at the other end.

Perhaps Hodge is more imaginative than I thought (I doubt it). With Dirty Dick bowling to Thornely, he had a short leg, leg gully and short mid wicket. All this while Dirty Dick bowled into Thornely’s arm pit.

Dirty Dirk gets so angry when anyone scores off him, its quite amusing.

Someone needs to check the water supply to the Nsw changeroom, it may have lithium in it. They have lost 3 wickets (one to a run out) and they are batting like they want a draw not a win. Quite odd.

The pitch is still a small pr1ck to bat on, but its not as bad as it was on the first two days. You can play your shots on it, not that NSW have tried that radical tactic.

Oh Greg Mail is still in, he has blazed to 95 not out.

vics vs nsw day three (lunch)

Well I’m at the g, and its about to be lunch.

The game is as boring as sh1t, Mail and Hughes looked in complete control all morning, and batted like they were on xanax.

Hodge is not a spectacularly gifted captain. I think some of the fielders actually fell asleep at one stage.

All of the quicks bowled well, but none of them actually looked like getting a wicket. Not even Dirty Dirk Nannes.

Finally the ball was given to Bryce McGain, when I say given, it seemed that he was bowled due to rotation system and not part of some brilliant plan from Hodge.

McGain responded by starting with 2 full tosses, and the lady sitting in front of me, had her head in her hands.

From there McGain bowled pretty damn well, and dragged Victoria back into the match. Slowly.

Eventually he got Hughes out. At the other end Quiney was bowling his slow medium pacers. I’m telling you now people, the Mcg is the place for slow medium bowling. It even works from the other end.

Lunch. Pie, chips, coke.

Oh and the crowd isn’t too bad today.

Moses found this for radio coverage of the game, haven't tried it, and its from a nsweslhamn, so it may not work. http://www.abctechnologies.com.au/cricket.asx

vics vs nsw day two

I got to the G at lunch, had a sleep in, and then had to do some work.

From time to times I do work.

When I got to the ground Hodge and Hussey were making their way to the wicket.

I was struck by the lack of people at the ground. I’m used to small crowds but this was small for a NSW game.

Hodge didn’t last long, played the ugliest cut shot this side of Tori Spelling.

The Speedblitz side continued to bowl at Hussey’s head. He continued to make runs.

Katich must have played some innings yesterday, this is a not an easy deck to bat on, in the words of my father “it’s a pr1ck of a pitch”. Only the best seem to manage it.

If you didn’t know it was impossible you’d swear Hussey was batting on another pitch altogether.

Small note, Nicholson is probably ten years older than Bollinger, but you’d swear it was the other way around.

The pace of the pitch can be explained by the fact that Haddin start taking bouncers on the second half volley.

Katich is such a reactionary captain, he waits for Hussey to hit a ball somewhere, then he puts a fielder there. I hate when captains put out deep point fielders, how about telling your bowler to stop bowling sh1t short balls.

Hussey eventually went out for 95, I think this was the 6th 50 I’ve seen him make, still never seen him make a ton. After all the bouncers, he went out to the slow medium pace of the MAILman.

Put this in my file of wickets that slow medium pacers get at the G. The rate of medium pacers getting wickets here is oddly high. As I finished that last sentence Thornley took another wicket.

Cameron White signed autographs while on crutches. Top effort.

Then I went to interview the guitarist from My Chemical Romance.

True story.

Somehow victoria limped to first innings points, with Bryce "i'm not that old" Mcgain leading the way.